What's Happening!!: The Benefit Show

What's Happening!!: The Benefit Show
ABC
April 28, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

While this Joanne Pagliaro story is certainly better than the recent Welcome Back, Kotter talent show episode, with Dwayne's drumming the highlight, it's hard to get past Rerun lying and getting away with it.  Note that the studio audience remains vocal, with one man exclaiming, "Stole the rose!"

Diane Sommerfield, who was Guru Girl #2 on Three's Company, is Ginger here.  Helen Martin makes her third WH cameo, this time as Mrs. Lloyd.  And Richard Couture is featured quite prominently in the crowd shots.

What's Happening!! in its final season ranges from C+ to B, landing right on the C+/B- border for an average.  In other words, it was still somewhat entertaining, though past its peak.  Getting rid of Mrs. Thomas was a mistake, as was adding more supporting characters, but neither of these wrecked the show.  I actually would've have liked more to be done with Raj in college, other than vague references to him studying.

I occasionally watched What's Happening Now!, but the characters and I were older and it just didn't stay with me like the original series did.  If there were any moments on a level with, for instance, "Handyman," I'd be surprised.

What's Happening!!: Dwayne's Debate

What's Happening!!: Dwayne's Debate
ABC
April 21, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I considered giving this Sally Wade story a B- or even a B, partly because of some of the guest cast (see below), and partly because of the basic premise, but there are too many flaws.  To begin with, it's another episode where Snake is again clumsily substituted for the absent Rerun, although at least his role is smaller than last time.  I have more of an issue with the tag, which not only has Little Earl's crush at its most nauseating (these sort of one-sided crushes get old fast, even when there's no age difference, see Urkel, if you must), but with its "older woman" line it feels like it drifted over from  the landlady episode.  Furthermore, the mockery of Dwayne's opponent, especially by Shirley, goes too far.  Still, I like how Dwayne realizes he's not the best candidate.

Greg Morris returns as Dwayne's councilman father, with Betty Bridges, who'd recently guested on son Todd's Diff'rent Strokes, playing Dwayne's mother.  LaNette Hardiman, who was Delores before, is Lisa here.  Richard Couture appears at both Rob's Place and the school auditorium.  And it's nice to see Fritzi Burr back as Miss Collins.\
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This is the 900th program I've reviewed for the '70s.  With only about eight months to go, I don't  know if we'll hit 1000, but we'll certainly come close.

What's Happening!!: First Class Coach

What's Happening!!: First Class Coach
ABC
April 7, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Moore & Stevens story has Dwayne as substitute coach for Little Earl's basketball team while Big Earl is busy with policework.  This is one of the episodes that supports my theory that Big Earl is a single dad, either divorced or widowed.

Justin Dana, who plays Bobby, would turn up over a decade later on Roseanne as Matthew.  And as always, it's nice to see Sparky Marcus, 11 at this point and playing Danny.  For some reason, Shirley is missing, and it seems like Rob got her lines at the soda shop.

What's Happening!!: Dwayne's Dream

What's Happening!!: Dwayne's Dream
ABC
February 16, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Joanne Pagliaro episode is predictable but cute, with a few ironic-in-retrospect aspects.  Dwayne gets a job as a concessions vendor (cue the Carter peanut jokes) and of course wants to quit school and work full-time, till he has a dream set 30 years in the future.  Bear in mind, the characters are supposed to be in their 40s or 50s, but they look like they're at least 60.  Then the Earls hear Dwayne screaming in his sleep, so they talk to him, and then he has another dream, this time where he's the American President.  (Yes, a black president in 2009, who knew?)  Meanwhile, Rerun, who's head of ABC in both dreams, compliments "Baba Wawa" on her interview with "Fidel," little knowing that in real life Castro would leave office in 2008.  Not to mention that Shirley Hemphill would die in '99, and Fred Berry in '03.

Richard Couture makes another appearance at Rob's/Shirley's diner and actually gets a line.

What's Happening!!: A Present for Dee

Roger's gift is more appropriate.

What's Happening!!: A Present for Dee
ABC
February 9, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The show switches to Fridays, I'm assuming after Diff'rent Strokes at 8 p.m., although I suppose it could've been opposite.  And speaking of time, despite the "burger" episode, which said Dee's birthday was in September, she turns fourteen in this Sally Wade episode, where Little Earl joins a gang (yes, a preteen gang) and shoplifts a tacky but expensive necklace for her present.  The best thing about the episode is Raj and Shirley pretending to be Dee's parents.

It's surprising that this is the first and I think only appearance of Richard Deacon in my TV collection, but I don't have The Dick Van Dyke Show or any of the other series he appeared on.  Anyway, he does fine with the role of Mr. Bradford, the store owner.  For some reason, this episode has two directors, Lee Bernhardi who had done two previous, and Russ Petrano, who has absolutely no other credits.

What's Happening!!: Dee the Cheerleader

What's Happening!!: Dee the Cheerleader
ABC
January 25, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Sally Wade story has potential but it also has flaws:

1. There's too much set-up to explain why Rerun is absent and Snake has temporarily moved in;
2. Little Earl creeps me out when he talks about Dee's "crazy hips";
3. Not enough distinction is made between the effects of busing and the specific expectations of Mr. Bradley the principal (Davis Roberts returning in the role);
4. And Dee is 13 but going to high school?  Did she skip a grade at some point?

I do like Dee standing up for her rights, the ironic twist about the Chicana cheerleader, and the bonding not only between Dee and her friend but among the girls and Shirley.

What's Happening!!: Positive Identification

What's Happening!!: Positive Identification
ABC
December 21, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This first of two WH stories by Bill Box and Dick Westerschulte never gets past its formula feel, from the Christmas burglary to the overuse of the catchphrase of the burglar, Willie Spencer (Stu Gilliam, who previously played Gary).  Still, I like Shirley as Mrs. Claus.

Wendell Wright, who plays the Sergeant that believes in astrology, had recently been Rodney Raisin on Soap.

What's Happening!!: The Landlady

What's Happening!!: The Landlady
ABC
November 16, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This story, which is not only one of the better episodes of the relatively weak last season but one of the better ones of the series, turns out to be the only one written by Dee Caruso (male) and Gerald Gardner, who co-wrote the amazing Gilligan's Island episode "The Producer."  This isn't on that level of course, but it does more with the predictable idea of Raj developing a crush on the title character than you'd expect.

Rerun, who we know from a previous episode is a page at ABC, refuses to cross the picket line when the cameramen go on strike.  The landlady, Mrs. Watson (Hope Clarke, who had given another solid but very different performance as the estranged but reconciling daughter of Dee's cranky old friend from the Negro leagues), not only is understanding about the rent being late, but she befriends 19-year-old [sic] Roger, who reminds her of her late husband.  He's had at least two crushes on slightly older women, and now he not only thinks that a romance is developing between him and a 35-to-40-year-old, but he starts trying to act older.  His friends gently (well, Dee not so much) try to set him straight, with the one-on-one talk with Shirley, who incorporates an extra memorably (the guy isn't credited), both funny and sweet.  We know Raj is in for a fall, even before Mrs. Watson and her date show up to take him to the ballet, but the performances here add more realism and sensitivity than I expected.

LaNette Hardiman, who plays Delores, would return as Lisa.  This is the 800th program I've reviewed from the '70s, with over a year to go.

What's Happening!!: Shirley's Cookies

Hmm....

What's Happening!!: Shirley's Cookies
ABC
November 9, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Everyone loves the title sweet, so a fast-talking con artist tells Shirley she could be another Well-Known Jones, i.e. Famous Amos.  It's up to the gang to get her out of the contract.  The Earls aren't too annoying in this one, and Big Earl does some impressive tongue-twisters.

Leland Smith returns as The Snake.  Larry Gilman, who plays Sylvester, was a GI on M*A*S*H.  This is the only WH script Ken Hecht wrote, although he would do one for Three's Company.

What's Happening!!: The Creep Detective

What's Happening!!: The Creep Detective
ABC
November 2, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Ted Bergman story introduces John Welsh and David Hollander as new neighbors Big Earl and Little Earl.  The former is the title character, not so much a "creep" (and, yes, I know it's a pun on Cheap Detective) as mildly annoying, with his habit of nicknaming people.  His nine-year-old son is also mildly annoying, with his instant crush on Dee.  But the real trouble-makers are Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence (Ric Mancini, who'd appeared on M*A*S*H and The Bob Newhart Show, and Carol DeLuise, who'd be Marcia Brady's future mother-in-law), who ask Rerun to watch their silverware, which turns out to be stolen cameras and tape recorders.